Kentucky, Michigan State stay on top of AP poll, setting up 1 vs. 2 matchup

Two teams play each other Tuesday night

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Kentucky head coach John Calipari directs his team during Sunday's home game against Northern Kentucky in Lexington, Ky.ASSOCIATED PRESSEnlarge

Kentucky and Michigan State held the top spots in The Associated Press’ first regular-season college basketball poll, setting up the first No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup in five years.

The Wildcats held the same three-point advantage over the Spartans from the preseason Top 25 today, and they will meet Tuesday night in Chicago. The last 1-2 matchup was No. 2 Tennessee’s 66-62 victory over Memphis on Feb. 24, 2008.

Kentucky received 28 first-place votes and 1,552 points from the 65-member national media panel. Michigan State had 22 No. 1 votes. Defending champion Louisville remained third and was No. 1 on 12 ballots.

Duke, which got the other three first-place votes, and Kansas stayed fourth and fifth. They will meet in the other game of the Chicago doubleheader.

Arizona, Michigan, Oklahoma State, Syracuse and Ohio State rounded out the top 10. There were no changes in the 25 teams from the preseason poll.

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